Basic Curricular Goals in Medical Ethics

Formal teaching of ethics in the medical school curriculum has increased greatly during the past 15 years. Yet, schools vary in how much attention they give the subject, and even those that do offer courses vary considerably in the form and content of their curricula. Although the result has been a notable degree of innovation and creativity in teaching methods, the diversity has also created certain impressions that require close scrutiny. A medical school dean or curriculum committee surveying the current state of education in medical ethics might conclude that nothing has evolved that might serve as a national standard.